Operational Manager

Not For Profit People; Brighton; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

We are seeking an experienced Operational Manager to lead a supported housing service for people experiencing homelessness and complex support needs in Brighton. You will manage a dedicated staff team and ensure high‑quality, person‑centred support in a psychologically and trauma‑informed environment.

The role includes safeguarding, risk management, health and safety, housing management and close collaboration with commissioners, statutory services and community partners.

Qualifications

• Experience managing support services for vulnerable people with high/complex needs.
• Strong people management and safeguarding knowledge.
• Experience in homelessness, supported housing or related services is valuable.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and develop a staff team, including supervision, performance and wellbeing.
• Ensure residents receive effective, person-centred support and regularly reviewed plans.
• Embed trauma‑informed approaches across the service.
• Oversee safeguarding, risk, health and safety and crisis response.
• Manage referrals, housing management, voids and arrears, licences.
• Monitor outcomes, quality standards and contractual performance.
• Develop strong relationships with commissioners and partner agencies.
• Provide an on‑call management presence, including one weekend day every four weeks.

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Operational Manager to lead a supported housing service for people experiencing homelessness and complex support needs.

Position: Operational Manager

Location: Brighton

Salary: £38,827 per annum

Hours: 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday, with some weekend management presence on site, agreed with the Senior Manager

Contract: Fixed term to 30 June 2027

Closing date: CV to be reviewed on a rolling basis

About the role

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced homelessness, supported housing or complex needs professional to lead the safe and effective delivery of a residential support service in Brighton.

You will manage and support a dedicated staff team, ensuring residents receive high-quality, person-centred support within a psychologically and trauma-informed environment. You will have responsibility for safeguarding, health and safety, risk management and housing management, while building effective relationships with commissioners, statutory services and community partners.

As the service is due to close at the end of the contract period, you will also play a key role in its planned demobilisation, working closely with partners to ensure residents are supported to move on safely and appropriately.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading, managing and developing the staff team, including supervision, performance, training and wellbeing.
• Ensuring residents receive effective support, advice, assessment and regularly reviewed support plans.
• Embedding psychologically and trauma-informed approaches across the service.
• Managing safeguarding, risk, health and safety and crisis response.
• Overseeing referrals, housing management, voids, arrears and licence agreements.
• Monitoring outcomes, quality standards and contractual performance.
• Developing strong relationships with commissioners, local authorities and partner agencies.

The role includes participation in an out-of-hours on-call rota and providing a management presence on site for one weekend day every four weeks.

About you

You will have experience of managing support services for vulnerable people with high and/or complex needs, ideally gained within homelessness, supported housing, rough sleeping, substance misuse, mental health or a related service.

You will be an experienced people manager with a strong understanding of adult safeguarding, risk management and health and safety. Experience of residential services and knowledge of relevant housing legislation will be valuable.

You will be resilient, approachable and confident, with excellent communication skills and the ability to lead a team through a period of change while maintaining a consistently high-quality service.

About the organisation

You will be joining an established charity providing housing, support and specialist services to people experiencing homelessness, vulnerability and disadvantage.

The organisation is committed to empowering people, delivering excellent services and working collaboratively to create positive and lasting change.

Other roles you may have experience of could include:

Supported Housing Manager, Homelessness Service Manager, Service Manager, Supported Accommodation Manager, Housing Support Manager, Complex Needs Service Manager, Hostel Manager, Residential Services Manager, Homelessness Manager or Operations Manager